Factor Analysis and Development of a Short Version of the Bullying Participant Behaviors Questionnaire (BPBQ) in a German Sample of Adolescents

The Bullying Participant Behavior Questionnaire (BPBQ) is widely used to assess bullying roles in different populations. This study aimed to investigate the structure, construct validity, and reliability of a German version of the BPBQ in a sample of 250 German-speaking adolescents aged 10–16 years ( M = 12.92; SD = 1.36; 51.6% female). A second goal was to develop a short version that retains key behaviors but enhances usability. Results indicated that the five oblique factors model fit the long version best, consistent with the original BPBQ and prior research. The short version demonstrated a better model fit, strong internal consistency, and did not require error correlations or modifications. The shorter format improves the questionnaire’s practicality while preserving its accuracy. This study underscores the importance of refining tools like the BPBQ to better capture bullying dynamics and highlights the advantages of a concise version for varying purposes.